Jeremy Corbyn wants the PM set a date for the meaningful vote immediately.
Photograph: Robert Perry/PA

Jeremy Corbyn is to tell Theresa May Labour will table a vote of no confidence in her as prime minister if she does not set a date for the meaningful final vote on Brexit immediately.

However, the form of the motion is such that it would not lead to a general election or even the ousting of Theresa May if she were to be defeated – rather it would amount to a symbolic defeat of the prime minister.

An attempt to force May out of office via a vote of no confidence has to use a different wording – “that this house has no confidence in Her Majesty’s government” – under the terms of the Fixed Terms Parliament Act.

The idea of a no-confidence motion in the prime minister personally, rather than in the government, makes the process notably more symbolic, with none of the same constitutional significance

Losing a no-confidence motion in the government triggers a general election, unless a confidence motion is passed within 14 days. The Labour proposal would, if passed, have symbolic effect but no more.

It is also not clear when the Labour motion would be debated. While the government has to find immediate Commons time for a formal no-confidence bid, constitutional experts say the proposal targeting May would have to wait for an opposition day debate, and there is no obligation to timetable it straight away.

If May does not name a date, the Labour leader is expected to say: “And so Mr Speaker, if the prime minister does not announce the date for the final vote immediately and with the vote taken promptly, I will table a motion, that this house has no confidence in the prime minister due to her failure to allow the House of Commons to have a meaningful vote straight away on the withdrawal agreement and framework for the future relationship between the UK and the EU.”

May pulled the final Brexit vote that had been due on Tuesday last week because with 100 Tory MPs signalling they would vote against her deal it had no chance of being approved by parliament. Since then, May has refused to name a day for holding the rescheduled vote other than saying that it would happen at some point before 21 January.